- Hundreds gather at WA’s home of football for the John Todd State Memorial
- Legendary player and coach passed away in June
- John Todd Coaches’ Room unveiled at Optus Stadium to coincide with memorial service
Hundreds of Western Australians have gathered at Optus Stadium for a State Memorial to formally honour football legend John Todd, who passed away on 4 June at the age of 86.
Manjimup-born John Todd was a highly influential figure who made an outstanding contribution to football across both WAFL and AFL. His decades of service and leadership had an impact across the WA community.
John Todd played 132 senior games for the South Fremantle Bulldogs and 13 games for WA. He was a member of the State team that won the 1961 national carnival.
John Todd forever etched his name into WA football folklore when he edged out fellow WA champ Graham “Polly” Farmer for the 1955 Sandover Medal aged just 17.
Injury cut short John Todd’s playing career, but it didn’t stop his passion for the game – he would become one of the WAFL’s greatest coaches. He went on to coach South Fremantle, East Fremantle and Swan Districts, winning six WAFL premierships. He was appointed senior coach of the West Coast Eagles in 1988 and led them to their inaugural finals campaign that same year. His coaching career spanned a total of more than 700 games.
John Todd was a well-respected member of the football community and a footy icon who was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2003 and made a legend in the WA Hall of Fame in 2004.
As well as the State Memorial Service, the State Government has also formally honoured the legacy of John Todd by naming a function space at Optus Stadium in his honour. The John Todd Coaches’ Room will be used by many people including the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.
The unveiling of the John Todd Coaches’ Room complements a State Government-funded memorial match that was held in John Todd’s honour on Saturday, 15 June between Swan Districts and South Fremantle.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“It is fitting to have a State Memorial Service for John Todd as one of WA’s most highly decorated and celebrated football figures.
“I am pleased the Todd family accepted and welcomed this offer from my Government and I am proud we could provide it.
“Additionally, we have aptly named a space at Optus Stadium the John Todd Coaches’ Room’, which tens of thousands of people will see during back of house tours each year.
“This will be a fitting and lasting tribute to one of the greats of our game in this State.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“John Todd was a titan of football, and his name is synonymous with AFL in Western Australia.
“A State Memorial Service is a fitting tribute. It’s an opportunity for the WA community to come together and remember a sporting legend who did us all proud and had a huge impact on the game as both a player and coach.
“He was inspiring – a mentor, guide and friend to many, who imparted wisdom to players and colleagues.
“Vale John Todd!”
